So Long, Farewell, I Hate to Say Goodbye

The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorite movies. It reminds me of some great times with family during the holidays when I was a kid. The adults would all be in the living room talking about “boring adult stuff” and all us kids would be piled in the family room on the floor with the fire place roaring and singing along at the top of our lungs to every single song.

Those are some great memories and those memories are what make us “us” and that is why this post if very hard for me to write. My mother has been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and it has been devastating for my family.

Most of you know I do lots of volunteer work for PASS. It’s one of my PASSions, I love working with folks in our #SQLFamily and the folks at PASS HQ. However, with my mother’s diagnosis, something has to give and unfortunately my volunteer work with PASS is one of the things that will be affected. I will be scaling back my volunteer efforts with PASS.

Currently I serve on the Program Committee as a Program Manager and am a PASS chapter leader, among other various volunteer things throughout the year. I have been on the Program Committee for the last seven years, spending the last two as a Program Manager. We have come a long way from where we were when I started seven years ago, but there’s always room for improvement. I really wish I could be part of the team that keeps making it better, but my family needs my attention now, so I will be stepping down from the Program Committee. I’ve made some good friends along the way and am thankful for the opportunity I have had to give back to the community by being part of this great team. I will continue to serve as the Chapter Leader in Greensboro and various other opportunities when they come up, however those opportunities will be in a limited capacity now.

I have some great memories of my PASS family which is why I really hate to say goodbye, so I’m going to think about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens..then maybe I won’t feel so bad.

It is sad to hear that Angela. You are doing the right thing putting your family first. I hope and pray you get to spend quality time with your mom and also for her health. Thank you for your help with SQL Saturday Charlotte. You have made a tremendous impact here too. SQL hugs to you and your family.

Angela, it has been such a pleasure to work with you the last few years. I am sorry that such a situation exists, but you are absolutely doing the right thing. You have made a huge contribution to the SQL community, I’ve personally seen it.

Angela – sad to hear about the diagnosis – and its times like these that test one’s resolve – your passion to volunteer and care for the #SQLFamily or to care for the one that shaped you – and you are making the right choice. I’ve always seen you out and about helping attendees – be it may at PASS Summit in Seattle, or SQL Saturday events at Raleigh, or Charlotte, or the online session selections; you are leaving your PASS contributions in great hands, and though you’re scaling back, I hope to see you sometime at one of the #SQLFamily events. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and your family.